Gazza fails to pay 400 pound cab fare

London, Apr.1 : Troubled former England football star Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne was facing arrest on Monday after allegedly failing to cough up 400 pounds as taxi fare from Newcastle to Birmingham.

According to The Sun, Gazza missed the train to Birmingham by a couple of minutes and hopped into driver Hanzale Aziz's cab.

Aziz claims Gazza was already sozzled and behaved erratically throughout the 180-mile journey to a charity do - even defrosting a frozen curry on the way.

When Aziz finally asked for his fare, Gazza allegedly said he had no cash and began arguing.

"He was so aggressive that I got to my car, locked the doors and rang cops. I was terrified," said Aziz.

"He was irrational - friendly one moment, aggressive the next. He was making a lot of calls on his mobile. He rang his dad and said, 'I'm in trouble again'. He told his dad he had drunk two bottles of wine. He kept falling asleep. One time he woke up and asked me where the other driver was - he was confused," added Aziz.

It was the former Newcastle United and England star's first trip from his North East home since he was sectioned for a drink and drugs binge in hotels.

"It cost me a lot - the fare, petrol and the income I missed," Aziz said.

Police say they will probe the alleged theft, which carries a maximum two-year jail term.